Typewriting machine



Sept 2, 92@ LEMAN@ F. BECKER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 30 l92l /0Ven/ar- Patented sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STA/TES 1,507,149 PATENT oEFiCE.v

FRED BECKER, .or BUFFALO, iinwoax, AssIeNon To UNDERWooD mnwmmtycommun', or NEW relais,I N. Y., A conronA'rIoN om DELAWARE TYP-EWRITINGuAcI-IINE.

Applicaudn mea my so, 1921. smal no. 48am.

To all whom it may concern.' Beit known that I, FRED BECKER, a c1t1- azen-of the Republic of Switzerland, residing in Buffalo, in' the countyof Erie and -State of New' York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following` isaspecification. t,

This invention. relates to'means to facilitate the adjustment of.work-sheets or cards on the platens of combined typewriting andcomputing' machines, and is in the nature of an improvement on theinvention disclosed inthe application of Charles M. Hilsee, Serial No,453,07 9, tiled March 17, 1921.

In certain classes of work, entries are made in different divisions ofwork-sheets or cards7 said divisions bein arranged in rows bothtransversely and ongitudinally of the work-sheets. Furthermore, in many,

cases, entries are to be made iny succession in'corresponding divisionson a plurality of such work-sheets orcards necessitating the rapidremoval of one work-sheet andthe insertion of another. v

As herein disclosed, the work-sheetis in theform of a card for use as arecord or ledger-sheet for monthly entries and is divided into threemain columns, ,each of which is divided into secondary columns. Thesesecondary columns have headings to indicate Old bal, Credit, Newbal andDate When the machine is set for the typing of entries in one of the'main columns and for effecting computations therein, and it is desiredto write in another ofthe main columns and effect computations in saidcolumn, it is desirable to avoid the resetting of thedenomination-controlling mechanism and of the tabulating stops, sincethis requires considerable time. lt is desirable also that means beprovided for expediting the accurate positioning of the cards in themachine both longitudinally and laterally to receive entries in desiredlocations.

To this end, provision is made ofv a front paper-table havin a side gageand an ,adinstable leading-e ge gage, said paper-table being adjustablelaterally of the machine to bring its side-edge gage into position tolccate the work-cards with any one of their main cciumns incti-operative alignment with the computing and tabulating mecha- Anisms. As herein disclosed, a bar, having teeth at letter-spacedistances at its upper edge, is supported above the platen, and the front paper-table is provided with springcli s, so that, when placed onthe bar, it wil be yieldingly retained thereon, prolvision being made ofa suitable member on the paper-table to co-operate with the teeth toinsure proper positioning. of the papertable and to prevent longitudinalmovement thereof relative to the bar.

A feature of the invention is the provision ef improved means forfacilitating the ad- ]ustment of the'leading-edge age with reference tothe front paper-table.

Another feature of Ihe invention is the provision of an improved clip tohold a card on the front paper-table. vOther features and advantageswill hereinafter appear. 4

In the accompanying drawings,

'Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing ymy invention asapplied to the platen-frame of an Underwood type-A writing machine. r.

' Figure 2 is a side view of substantilly the same parts as shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the novel structure viewedfrom the rear. -v

Figure -1 is a view showing one form of work-sheet used in connectionwith the invention.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view, showing the clip and the manner ofsupporting the .same on the front paper-table.

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section,

showing a modified form of the means by which the leading-edge gage isheld in adjusted position on the front paper-table.

The combined typewriting and computing machine, which may be abookkeeping machine of the Underwood-Hanson type, comprises a platen 11supported by an axle 12 Iiournaled in the ends 13 of the platen-frame.Mounted on a rod 14, supported by the ends 13 of the platen-frame, areplates 15 and 16 normally heid against rotation on rod 1li by Ameans ofa rod 1'? lying; in notches 18 and 1.9 in the plates tand 16,respectively, and sup orted at its ends in brackets 20 carried hilt eends 13 of the platen-iraine Luge 21 the forward edges of plates 15 and16 serve to support a bar 2i?, extending 'longitudinally of the platen,the connection between the bar 22 and the lugs being made by screws 23extending through slots 24 in the ends of said bar 22, and threaded intolthe lugs 21. It will be'seen that the proand A16', and the plates areduplicates.V

The bar 22 is provided on its upper edge with teeth 25 at letter-spacedistances to receive in the notches therebetween a tooth 26 on a block27 secured byf screws 28 to the plate 29 lof the front lpaper-table 30.

i VPformed by pressing a The front paper-table may be secured to the bar22 'by means of spring-clip devices 31 near eachY side of thepaper-table. Each `of the devices 31 includes a spacer 32, a leafspring33 having a 'latching projection 34, a spring or supporting member 35overlying a portion of the,leaf-spring 33, and a screw l36 maintainingthese parts in position. 4It will be seen that each of the-projections34 may consist of a beveled pin fixed in the end of the spring 33, orthe projection may be ortion of the metal of the spring to one si e. u

The front paper-table 30' also includes a plate 37 secured to the lowerpart of the plate 29, and, as shown in Figure l, the plate 37 is beveledat'38 to enable the use oi the adjacent/edge of the plate 29 inconnection with letter-space graduations 39 on the bar 22 in positioningthe paper-table along the bar 22. It will be seen that the paper-table30 may readily be brought to any one of the line-space positions,indicated by the graduations 39, on the bar 22. After the paper-tablehas been brought to the desired letter-space position, it may be securedon the bar 22 by a downward movement.

vIn this movement the leaf-springs 33 will be cammed outwardly "by acam-surface 40 formed -by beveling the rear face of the bar 22, and,upon completionof the downward movement, the projections 34 will snapunder the lower edge of the bar 22, as indicated in Figure 2, and thepaper-table will be held firmly in position; However, when it lisdesired'to shift the paper-table 30 to another position, it may bedetached from the bar 22 merely by lifting, since the taperedprojections on the leaf-springs' 33 will, when suflicient pressure isexerted, ride over the lower rear edge of the bar 22 and permit thepaper-table to be withdrawn from the bar. It will be evident that, whenthe paper-table 3() is lifted to withdraw the tooth 26 from engagementwith the teeth 25,

it may be shifted longitudinally along the bar 22 without beingwithdrawn therefrom. A portion of the plate 29 extends above the plate37, and is provided at its sides with rearwardly-extending anges 41,hav` ving perforations 42 at line-space distances bar 44 ma be securedin any of the posi-'i tions to w ich itis adjusted, by means of thegraduations 43, by'screws 48 threaded into the blocks 46 and extendingacross the slots 47 whenturned by the knurled ends 49 to move themthrough the correspondinglypositioned perforations 42.

The paper-table 30 is provided with a left-hand edge-gage 50, preferablyformed by bending the plate` 29 around the left-hand end of the plate 37so as to extend at rightangles tov the outer face of the plate 37.

.Provision may also be made of means to hold a work-sheet or card inposition onI thev paperltabl'e 30. For this purpose, use is made of a'bracket 51, secured to the rear face of the plate 29, passing aroundthe edge gage 50, and ext-ending to the right substantially parallel tothe front face of the papertable. Secured near its middle to the freeend of the bracket 51 is a spring 52, the `two branches 53 of whichextend towards the front face of the paper-table so as to pressthereagainst, and are bent outwardly at their ends. The connectionbetween the spring 52 and the bracket 51 may be effected by any suitablemeans, such as a'screw 54. It will bejevident that the spring 52 will beparticularly effective in holding a 'card or' work-sheet in position onthe' paper-table, due to the fact that it enga es the latter at twopoints at a substantial istance apart.

The card 55, which is herein disclosed as the card to be used, isprovided, below the heading,.with three major columns, each of which isdivided into three minor columns, designated in order, from left toright, as Old bal, Credit, New bal, and Date Provision is also made oftransverse lines. One of these cards is .used with each individualaccount, and is used as follows: At the end of January of the first yearprovided for, the card is inserted into the niachine, the paper-tablebeing positioned at the right-hand end of the carriage, and any previousbalance which may exist is typed in the first minor column, and in theupper linev thereof; the carriage is moved to the left, and the amountof any transaction during the month typed in the second minor column.The new balance is then computed llo' ' entries made in the first lineand in the rst leading-edge 30 major column, the position of the entriescorresponding to January. Each card, when the entries have been typedthereon, is removed from the machine, and the next card placed therein.'At the end of the. second month, entries will be made in a correspondingmanner in the` first line in the' second.

column, which corresponds to Februar and, at the end of the third month,in the same line, but in the third major column, the March entries/willbe made. It will be evident that for the first three months thefront-paper-table is set in a different osition foreach month, and thatthe lea in edge gage 45 ,is secured on the paper-tab e so as to positionthe upper line Aof the card 'at vthe printing line. After the entriesfor the first threefmonths have been made, the paper-table 30 is againshifted to its righthand position, and the bar 44, carrying the age, issecured thereon in a position one line-space higher than before.

It will be seen that cards having different numbers of major columns maybe used, in accordance with the requirements of the work but, in usingthe sheet or card disclosed,'the procedure is substantially as follows:The letter-space position of the front paper-table 30 and the line-spaceposition of the bar 44 are determined in advance for typing on the cards55. In starting entries on a card, therefore, the paper-table ispositioned at the proper letter-space position by means of theright-hand edge of the plate 29 adjacent the beveled portion 38 of theplate 37, the edge of the plate 37 being used in connection withtheraduations 39 on the bar 22 and the bar 44 eing set at the properline-space position by means of the screws 48 and the perforatlons 42.After the paper-table has been Ybrought to` thecorrect letter-s aceposition along the bar 22, it is shove downwardly thereon, and theleaf-springs 33 are pressed outwardly by the inclinedasurface of beveledyportion 38 and thenpermitted to snap into position, with theprojections 34 lying beneath the lower edge of the bar 22. The bar 44 isalso set on the paper-table with thev leading-edge gage 45 in the properposition.

The card to be typed upon 1s then in-V serted at either the rear orfront of the platen, while the feed-rolls 56 are cast oi, and swunglaterally beneath theI upturned ends of the portions of branches 53ofthe spring 52, the card being gaged at the lefthand edge by theedge-gage 50. Assistance in such edge-gaging may also be furnishedbymeans of a side-gage 57 on the left-hand end of bar 44,-the forwardedge of the card being gaged by the Bange 45. Typing may then beeffected by means of types 58 on type-bars 59. The feed-rolls may bemoved to effective position to hold the card during such typing,'or maybe left in cast-ofi position, the pressure of the spring 52 beingsufficient to maintain the card in position on the front paper-tableduring such typing. When entries are `to be made for a succeeding month,the front paper-table 30 ma be' lifted to release it from the bar 22 anshifted to the proper position for typing in another major column, thebar 44 being adjusted, if necessary, to the proper linespace osition.

In t e modified form of leading-edgegage-retaining device shown inFigure 6, a pin 60, slidable ina block 46, is urged inwardly to engagein one of the perforations 42 by means of a spring 61, extending into aslot 62 in an enlarged portion 63 of the pin 60. The ins 60 may bewithdrawn from the per orations 42, and the bar yshifted slightly to oneside, so that the pins 60 will rest on the outer faces of the flanges 41and, when the bar is brought to proper position, the springs 61 willcause the pins 60 to enter the next pair of perforations. The withdrawalof the pins may be effected by knurled heads 64 on the pins 60. y

It will be evident that the arrangement, by which the adjustment of thepaper-table 30 along the bar 22 is determined bya tooth 26 on thepaper-table and a plurality of teeth 25 at letterspace distances alongthe bar make it possible to position the papertable for cards vhavingdifferent arrangements .of columns corresponding to the major columns inthe present case.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the im rovements may be used -without others. aving thusdescribed my invention, I claim: 'f l,

1. In a machine having writing and computing mechanisms, in combination,a platen, a platen-frame, a bar on said platenframe above the platen,said bar having ,a series of teeth on its upper edge, a front epaper-table having a tooth on its back, said `mally being positionedagainst the front face of the bar, and means including springclips toyieldably hold the paper-tab against removal from the bar. y

' 2. In a machine having typewriting and computing' mechanisms, 1ncombination, a

platen, a platen-frame, a front paper-table, a bar above the platensupporting'the papertable, having a front face to be enga by the rearface -of the vpaper-table, said bar and paper-table being relativelyadjustable to enable the paper-table to position the Work properly withrelation tothe computing mechanismLand comprising interfitting elementsto determine and maintain different adjustments of the bar andpaper-table, and means including a spring-clip to yieldably hold thepaper-table against removal from the bar.

3. In a typewriting and computing machine, in combination, a platen, aplaten'- frame, a bar on said platen-frame above the platen and havingnotches in'its upper edge, a front paper-table having means on its backto co-operate with said notches when placed against the front face ofthe bar,

and spring-latching means to yieldably hold the paper-tableon the. barwhen placed with its back against the front face of the bar and moveddownwardly to cause the means on the back of the 'paper-table toco-opcrate with said notches.

o rear of said paper-tableto en and leaf-springs on the vrear aceofssaid.. paper-table at each side thereof having.. forends whereby,upon placingthe paper-table bar when the positioning of the paper-tablevis completed. o

5. In a typewritingand computm machine, in combinatioma platen, a paten-y frame, a bar above' the. platen beveled at its rear to make itthinner at its upper edge, said bar being provided,"\with teeth at its uper edge, a paper-table, a projection on e wardly-extending projections`at their ower on the front face ofthe' r and. moving it downward] topass the projection on the tween two ofsaidteeth, the. springs will becammed outwardl'yfv'and then back thereof released to permit theprojections thereon to snap into position beneath the lower edgeofsaidbarf i' vv6. In a typewriting o chine, in combination, a pla-ten',7.a platenframe, a front paper-table, a support for said paper-table onthe platen! frame, means on said'support and papertable for the 'againstmovie;`

`tion, a

said teeth, v

and computing mav ment longitudinally of the former in 'anyy one of aplurality of letter-space positions thereon, and means for yieldinglyopposing a typewriting andcomputin ma chine,.in combination, a platen, ap atenframe, a front paper-table, a bar on the platen-frame above theplaten and ext/end-` ing-in the direction thereof, having a front faceto be engaged by the rear yface of said paper-table, and means includinga springp ,detent 4device for holding the paper-ta in differentletter-space positions on the bar, and for yieldin 1y resisting removalofthe table from the gar.

8. In a typewriting and computing machine, in combination, a platen,'aplatenframe, a bar on said platen-frame above the platen, saidbarhavinga series of teeth on its upper edge, each tooth being ofletterspace extent, and a set of letter-space grad'- uations on itsfront face, al` front papertable having a 'tooth on its back toco-operate with the teeth on saidbar in determining the exact positionof the table, and having a graduations in positioning the paper-table,

'and spring-clip means to hold saidy front paper-table .ini-positionagainst theA front face of the bar.

l' 9. In a typewriting machine, in combinalaten, a laten-frame, a `frontpaper-tab e mount table .having rearwardly-extending an es, aleading-edge age-deviceA comprising a ar resting on the ace of thepaper-table, mem-` bers secured to the bar near its ends, and providedwith slots to receive the flanges,

and means to hold said members in position on the platen-frame andextending above the platen, said aper-v 100 table havinrearwardly-exten' ing an la leading-e ge gage-device comprismgal arresting on the ace of the paper-table, memberssecured tothe bar-near itsends, and provided with Vslots tofreceive the flanges,

and means effective only at line-space i'n-v tl'YlStO Secure said'gage-device in position 0n the paper-table, f Y 4 11i In a t pewritincomprisin a bai* resting on the faceof the paper-tab e, members tothebarnear its ends, and.v provided'wth slots to receive A, i` machine,in 'combination, a Ap aten,4 a p aten-frame, a front l' the fianges, andspring-pressed pins in said members to enter the perforations in saidianges whenmovedinto register therewith.

12. In a typewriting machine,- in combination, a platen, a platen-frame,al front paper-table mounted on the platen-frame above the platen, saidpaper-table having recesses at line-space distances along each edge, anda leading-edge gage-device comprlsing a bar extending across the face ofthe paper-table, members shaped to fit around the paper-,table at its edes, secured to said bar and serving to hol the latter on thepaper-table, andespring-detent devices to co-operate with said recesseswhen the gage-device is moved to corresponding linespace positions.

13.. In a typewriting and computing machine, in combination, a platenand ya sheetholding device whereby a Work-sheet may be positioned andheld in position during typing thereon, said device comprising a frontpaper-table having leading-edge and sideedge gages, an arm extendin4inwardlyl over the side-edge gage on one si e of the papertable, and aleaf-spring secured near itsr middle to said arm and pressing againstthe paper-table at each side of the point of connection with the arm,the ends of the s ring being upturned so as to facilitate the insertionof work-sheets thereunder.

14. In a ty ewriting and computing'ma- `chine,in com ination, atraveling carriage,

a revoluble platen therein, a support on said carrlage extending acrossthe same above i the platen, a front pa er-table having a leading-edgegage, a si e-ed e `gage and a yielding device to hold on t e paper-tablea Work-sheet of width Within the capacity of the machine, provisions onsaid support and pper-table whereby the paper-table may adjusted to anyone of a plurality of letter-space positions along the support, so thatany column on the sheet may be placed over a 'ven field on the laten,irrespectivel of t e size or number of the columns, and yieldableholding means adapted to hold the paper-table in position whenA thelatter is grasped by the operator and placed on the support, and toyield and permit the removal of the aper-table when the latter isgrasped by t e operator and withdrawn from said support.

15. Ina typewriting and computing ma.- chine, in combination, a platenand worksheet-controlling means whereby a worksheet may be positionedand held for typing in different columns thereon when these columns arslaced over a given field of the platen, said means comprising a frontpaper-table having leading-edge and sideedge gages, and yielding meansto press the work-sheet against the laten at two separated points, apaper-ta le su port, provisions on said paper-table an support to comuting mechanisms, a front paper-table havlng a side gage thereon, thepaper-table being adjustable laterally for ositioning cards in themachine in selected locations to locate them in co-operativerelationship to the computing mechanism, an arm extending from the sidegage across the papertable, and a bow-s ring secured intermediate its,ends to sald arm 'and having its opposite ends directed toward thepaper-- table to engage the work thereon and press it against theaper-table.

17. In a. mac ine having writing and comuting mechanisms,- a 'frontpaper-table aving a side gage -thereon, the paper-table being adjustablelaterall for positioning cards in the machine in se ected laterallocations to correctly locate 'them with refertable, an arm extendingacross the paper- Atable from one side thereof, and a bowspringconnected intermediate its ends to said arm for pressing the work towardthe paper-table at spaced points.

18. In a typewriting machine, a front paper-table for positioning cardsin the machine, an arm extending above the papertable, and a bow-springconnected intermediate its ends to said arm and having its ends directedtoward the paper-table to engage the Work thereon at points spacedlaterally from each other.

19. In a typewriting machine, a papertable, a bow-spring positionedabove said table, and means supporting the bow-spring intermediate itsends in a position to cause its ends to bear against the work positionedon the table.

20. In a bookkeeping machine having writing mechanism including a platentravelin transversely of the machine and cornputlng mechanism settableto determine successive computing zones on the platen, the combinationWith the platen, of a front paper-table with a side gage to'position onthe platen a work-sheet having aplurality of a major column on thework-sheet, obtained by setting the computing mechanism to determinesuch zones at an desired position along the platen to enab e computation5 to be effected concomitantly with the typing of any one of said minorcolumns. i v 21. In a ty' ewriting machine, the combination with a frontpaper-table, of a, leading-edge gage therefor, a support on whichl0-sa1d gage is mounted to slide to and from the printing line andprovided with open- `detain the leading-edge 'the positionscorresponding to said openf ings, comprising, a. spring-pressed memberl15' ings Vat line-space intervals, and means tov vage et any one of tofit into said openings,` when brought `into register therewit n l v oFRED BECKER; Witnesses: .4

